San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-23
Texas and Freedom.
Platform Of the AUTHORIZATION Party
Adopted at Dallas, May 9TH, 1887.

/. We oppose the pending prohibition
amendment, because 1t Is a proposition
to change our form OF government from
free republic Of sovereign, and indie
pendent citizens to a species OF paternal-
lam hateful 70 our people. 1t will take
from the citizen his most sacred and In
alienable rights and add to and augment
the powers Of government, and is there
fore undemOcratio and anti-republican.
2. We oppose this amendment because
1t is sumptusry and will vex the citizens
and interfere with individual liberty.
8. We oppose this amendment because
Ii is at war with the fundamental prin-
cipals OF AnglO-SaXon civilization, and
will destroy that inalienRble right Of the
citizen to determine for himself how he
shall pursue his own happiness without
interference with the rights Of Others,
which principle is the basis OF our liber-
ties and the sole hope for perpetuity OF
our institutions.
4. We oppose this amendment because
its enforcement will entail upon the
government the necessity OF promoting
q system of spies and informers detesta-
Bile to our people, and the enactment Of
extreme legislation OF doubtful COnstitu-
tionality, and under the sanction OF
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property seized and our dearest rights
Invaded. Texas can not hope to escape
these curses. which have invariably
attended similar experiments In other
places.
8. Its adoption will suppress the gen.
eral use Of milder stimulants and en-
courage the use Of the strong drinks, and
thus retard the advancement OF genuine
temperance. Ii will stamp as criminal
the manufacture Of wines from our do
nestle grapes for family purposes, and
will degrade our drug stores into dram
shops and elevate our doctors into auto
Gratis Of our appetites.
6. 1t will enable the rich TO import
and use their liquors without taxation
or restraint, and will prohibit only
those OF our people who are too poor to
buy their liquors in unbrOken packages;
and under iIs operation the saloon will
give place to the gilded olub-room for
the rich, while the poor will be forced
to make their purchases at low dives
and In violation of law. Such class leg
islation Is odious to our people and con-
trary to free government.
z. 1t proposes by the preponderance
Of q majority in certain sections Of the
state to fasten by force on other sections
q theory Of moral and social conduct and
habits distssteful and repugnRnt to the
latter. The varied interests Of the sec
lions In our state have been prolific
source Of care and thought In our states
manship, and this amendment, II
adopted, will engender hostile public
sentiment In certain localities fatal to
Its enforcement, and thus beget disre-
speot for law and disregard OF constitu-
tional authority, and will produce last
ing and permanent evil to our people,
and tend to disrupt the state.
8. 1t proposes to confscate and de-
strOy, without compensation, large prop.
erty interests Of our people. 1t will un.
settle business and impair property
values, paralyZe, for q period at least,
the commercial interests OF our state,
and destroy great industries already In
operation for the manufacture Of the
milder sIimulants. 1t will abolish the
source Of our public revenues fully one
third and increase to a corresponding
amount the burden upon lands and the
necessaries Of life, already over-bur-
dened with the exsotions Of government.
.. The jealous adherents OF this pro-
hibltion idea have already established
and organized third political party and
have waged relentless warfare upon the
principles and organization Of the other
established parties; instigated by for
eign emissaries they have, by agitation
for years, secured from the legislature OF
our state the concession OF tBis PROPOSE
tion to change our organic law, and by
studied purpose and concerted move
ment they now seek to stifle political
expression from our people until their
political designs are fully accomplished.
We warn our people OF this threatened
danger, and call upon them TO rebuke at
the polls this sinister conspiracy against
their political organizations and the
fundamental principles Of American lib
erty.